#story of a girl - biography.

[maevepeters]

INTRODUCING MAEVE PETERS: just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.

FULL NAME            maeve willow peters.

BIRTHDAY              december 21st ( 26 ) . 

BIRTHPLACE          oahu, hawaii.

GENDER                 cis female.

OCCUPATION     paramedic.

BUILD                     athletic.

HAIR COLOR         blonde .

EYE COLOR           brown.

HEIGHT                  5’6

PARENTS              maxwell peters ( father ), wayne roberts ( biological father ) + jasmine peters ( mother )

SIBLINGS        older brother (on biological father's side, she is unaware)

PETS                    none.

CHARACTER PARALLELS: piper halliwell ( charmed ), joey potter ( dawsons creek ), chloe beale ( pitch perfect ), vic hughes ( station 19 ), sylvie brett ( chicago fire ), heather nill ( panic ), summer roberts ( the oc ), brooke davis ( one tree hill ), annie wilson ( 90210 )

PINTEREST | PLAYLIST

BIOGRAPHY with mentions of infidelity, pregnancy, and death :

Maeve Peters entered the world on a hot Tuesday morning in the dead of summer, born to Jasmine and Maxwell Peters in the backseat of their old 1986 Bronco. The circumstances of her birth might have been unconventional, but she was enveloped in the love and care of her parents. Jasmine, a waitress, and Maxwell, a lawyer, worked tirelessly to provide for their little family, despite the secret Jasmine carried.

When Jasmine met Maxwell, their romance was a whirlwind, leading to an engagement within weeks. However, Jasmine was pregnant with another man’s child, Wayne Roberts. Despite her deep love for Wayne, she discovered his double life and refused to settle for anything less than genuine commitment. It was sheer luck or fate that she found Maxwell so soon after, and he was never aware of the true timeline. When Jasmine returned a month later claiming she was pregnant with his child, Maxwell married her without hesitation. Seven months later, Maeve was born.

Maeve's childhood was simple and pleasant. She excelled academically and spent summers with her grandparents. A naturally observant child, she grew into a more outgoing yet still reserved young woman. In high school, she was captain of the dance squad, president of the student council, yearbook editor, and valedictorian. Her life unfolded as she had hoped, and after high school, she pursued getting her EMT certificate, much to her parents' pride.

After getting her EMT certificate and working for a few months, she then decided to go to school to become a paramedic. Two years later, she officially became a paramedic in her hometown. For the next four years, Maeve worked as a paramedic until she met Dylan while she was on a birthday trip with her friends in Aspen, Colorado. It was love at first sight for her and they spent the rest of their time together. It was hard to say goodbye but they did and she never forgot him. Fast forward two years later and they meet again but this time Dylan was brought out as her best friend’s boyfriend. 

They maintained a friendship that was deeper than most but never crossed the line until March of 2024 when Maeve had lost someone on her job and came to him for comfort. They ended up in bed together but never spoke about it again. It was to her surprise that two months later, Dylan and her best friend were engaged. It was also that morning that Maeve found out that she was pregnant. After the dinner party, Maeve packed her bags and headed to a new town. She changed her number and got a job that she fell in love with and seven months later, Stella was born. It hasn’t been easy starting over but she’s excited for the journey. 

HEADCANONS

she always wears the cross necklace that her mother had gifted her on her eighteenth birthday. she believes that it brings her luck especially when she's on the job. it has been through the ringer with her, but she wouldn't trade it for anything else.

when she's not at work, she is usually found on the roof of her apartment complex watching the stars. she has even purchased her own star from a star registry. she has learned a lot about the constellations throughout the past seven months that she has been in woodside.

maeve is actually super smart despite what most people think about her. they see her blonde hair and assume that she is ditzy but she is anything but. she has worked hard to get ahead of the stereotype and will be the first to show off just how smart she is.

her favorite season is winter ( where she would often spend her holiday's with family in new hampshire ) and she wishes that it could be winter all the time. she loves the cold weather and the snow but she especially loves being able to cuddle on her couch with a cup of hot chocolate watching christmas romance movies.

CONNECTIONS

her baby's father/ex fling ( male, aged between 26 - 32 ):  it was winter of 2021 when maeve met this muse. she was on a ski trip with her best friends in aspen (he could be from there or visiting like herself) and from the moment their eyes locked in a crowded lodge, she swore it was love. okay, maybe not love but those feelings surpassed anything she had ever felt before and she didn’t even know his name yet. before they could talk, she was whisked away by her friends. it wasn’t until that night that they met again in the elevator going down to the lobby. they immediately started talking and for the rest of their time in aspen, they were together. the trip lasted a week which was a hard goodbye but eventually they parted ways. fast forward almost two years later in the summer of 2023, maeve was attending her best friend’s party when she was introduced to her best friend’s boyfriend. And wouldn’t you guess it? it was your muse: the one that she had met at the lodge years prior. the feelings were still there but maeve had to hide them as best as she could. these two fell into a friendship that was deep and entangled. always the person the other relied on and the emotional aspect of their friendship started blurring the lines. fast forward to march 2024 and during a night of heightened emotions the two fell in bed together. two months later, maeve was sat at a dinner party where an announcement was made. your muse was engaged to maeve’s best friend. a shock to say the least and that was the night maeve disappeared. she moved across the country to a town where nobody would find her, changed her phone number and started over. seven months later on november 10th, maeve gave birth to a baby girl stella. she has not talked to this muse since.

best friend ( female, aged 26 - 32 ): they were next-door neighbors for as long as they can remember. the friendship came easily and it was like they were two halves of the same person. knowing that she betrayed her is something that she is deeply saddened about. when she left, she did write her a note about how much her friendship meant to her and that she would cherish the times that they had. she hasn't talked to her since the day she left, which was the night that her best friend announced her engagement.

someone she saved (any gender and any age): this could be someone in woodside or back in hawaii where she was located before she moved seven months ago. this would be someone that she met while being an EMT or paramedic and she essentially saved them. what happened is up to the player. 

childhood friends or anyone she knew in hawaii (any gender and any age): they could have been just friends, acquaintances, neighbors. the options are endless and it would be fun to have people in her old life show up in woodside. 

older brother (male, aged between 28-35): this is her biological half sibling. her biological father would also be their father. she has never met them and doesn’t even know that he exists. it would be fun to play out in terms of how he found her and how their relationship would ultimately play out. 

[mcintoshevelyn]

INTRODUCING EVELYN MCINTOSH: i think i'm burning alive, but nobody sees the fire.

FULL NAME            evelyn grace mcintosh.

BIRTHDAY              july 12th ( 35) . 

BIRTHPLACE          salt lake city, utah.

GENDER                 cis female.

OCCUPATION     owner of firefly brewery.

BUILD                     athletic.

HAIR COLOR         brown (currently).

EYE COLOR           green.

HEIGHT                  5’8

PARENTS              hugo mcintosh ( father ) + wayne abrams ( biological father )+ patricia mcintosh ( mother )

SIBLINGS        open half-siblings ( on the biological father's side )

PETS                    stellar ( black cat ) .

CHARACTER PARALLELS: meredith grey (greys anatomy), peyton sawyer (one tree hill), elena gilbert (the vampire diaries), charlotte york (sex and the city), fiona gallagher (shameless)

BIOGRAPHY

tw: abuse, infidelity, pregnancy, death

Evelyn was born on an ordinary Tuesday morning in the dead of winter to Patricia and Hugo McIntosh in the back seat of their shared 1986 Bronco. It was an interesting way to come into the world but the girl felt nothing short of love from either of her parents. Her mother, a waitress, and her father, a barber worked hard to provide for their little family, especially given the secret that Patricia held. You see when she met Hugo their romance was a whirlwind and they were engaged to be married within weeks of knowing one another but she was pregnant with another man’s child, Wayne Abrams. She had thought she had found the one with him but he was living a double life and she wasn’t going to settle despite loving the man with every fiber of her being. It was mere coincidence or pure luck that she found another so soon and that their romance was anything but out of a movie and Hugo was never the wiser when she came back a month later stating that she was pregnant with his child. They quickly married and seven months later Evelyn came to be.

Her childhood was simple and easy; she worked hard during school and then during the summers she would spend them with her grandparents. She was a quiet child, observing more than interacting and taking in everything around her. Of course, as time went on, she became more outgoing but still reserved. She was captain of her high school's dance squad, student council president, yearbook editor, and even valedictorian when the time came. Her life was how she envisioned it when she was younger and she had no complaints about anything. After high school came college and she went to the University of Utah for Nursing. She, thankfully, got a full ride there and her parents couldn’t have been more proud of the woman that they had raised and Evelyn couldn’t have been more excited for her future.

With a lot of sweat, blood, and tears Evelyn made her way through college with a breeze behind her. Five years total, she found herself being a registered nurse. She moved to Boston with her best friend to start their nursing career at Mass General. On her 24th birthday, she reluctantly agreed to go out with some co-workers where she met Kyle a bartender who worked at the bar they had decided to go to in the next town over. They hit it off immediately and before she could even think straight they were in a relationship. She had never felt like this before and it was everything that she had wanted and more. And it was perfect bliss for the first few months, and things changed. The lies he told were more frequent when she knew he was cheating and he made her believe that she was losing her mind. He started to talk to her friends about her crazy behavior defending his actions to them as if she were to blame. She had broken up with him too many times to count but with a sorry and bouquet of flowers, she was forgiving.

After one of their many break-ups and screaming matches, he laid his hands on her and left finger-shaped bruises on her arms from holding her down so she wouldn’t leave. She told herself that it was nothing and wore sweaters to hide them until they were gone. This happened quite often and it was during this time that she had gotten a message from someone claiming to be her biological father. They had talked and he introduced himself as Wayne and it was like she felt a piece that she hadn’t known to be missing out back into place. Their relationship was easy and she trusted him enough to tell him about what was going on with Kyle. They had spoken for hours on the phone and would often speak more than she even spoke to her parents. If there was one thing she knew it was that she was going to be saved. During this time, she was still dealing with an abusive Kyle and she refused to speak to her parents after finding out that they lied so Wayne was really the only one that she trusted.

He had found her an affordable apartment and got everything sorted for her while also helping her get a restraining order against Kyle. Her and Wayne still spoke pretty much every day until she just didn’t hear from him. She told herself it was because he was busy and so was she trying to work to save as much as she could to leave. It had been over a month since she had last heard from him when she found out that she had inherited his home and the bar he owned, The Firefly Brewery, in Briar Ridge, South Carolina. She received a call from a lawyer in Briar Ridge informing her of the news.

She quickly made her way to South Carolina to do what she needed to in order to get her name put on the house and bar. The next few months flew by and while it has not been an easy transition from nursing to owning a bar, she has made the best of it and is trying to keep the legacy of her biological father alive.

[artemismatchalatte]

I could have chosen ANY (or almost any) books to do my paper on and I settled on Fear of Flying by Erica Jong and Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Gilman is a much better short story writer. I did one of my other grad papers on her short stories.

I thought Jong was one of my favorite writers but after that I don't think so. Her poetry was much better than her novel but also I read her poetry when I was literally manic so I don't trust my old opinion of her. :/

[jawbonejoe]

Just finished Carmilla (as edited by Carmen Maria Machado), which was honestly really great until the end. The most striking thing is how completely Laura’s opinion on Carmilla’s execution is avoided, nevermind that the girls never get a last scene together. Altogether I really enjoyed it as a work for vamp and queer fiction, in the latter because it is a shining example of what becomes of our stories when we are not the ones allowed to tell them

[blog-karl]

MY FAVORITE KIDS’ BOOKS

Inclusive holiday goodies, freebies & fun for the whole family What children’s titles got you excited about reading books? Here’s my list: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Anna’s Prayer: The True Story of an Immigrant Girl (about my great-great aunt) Bicycles North: A Mystery on Wheels by Rita Ritchie (this book got me hooked on non-picture books) The Bridge of the Golden…

[atthequillsmercy]

Lenni Reviews: "Shrink: Story of a Fat Girl", by Rachel M. Thomas

(Image Source) *This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. Rachael Thomas tells the story of how it has felt to live in a fat body through her young life and her weight loss journey. I love how the art works with the words. This is what makes graphic novel biographies so interesting to me. The medium really lends itself to evoking emotions that perhaps wouldn’t have come through…

[lifewithaview]

Elle Fanning in The Girl from Plainville (2022) Star-Crossed Lovers and Things Like That

Ep1

A teen's death by suicide unearths painful questions for his family and reveals a complicated, mostly virtual relationship with a young woman who may hold the answers.

*Inspired by the true story of Michelle Carter's unprecedented "texting-suicide" case. Explores Carter's relationship with Conrad Roy III and the events that led to his death and, later, her conviction of involuntary manslaughter.

[sosuigeneris]

Beginner IT Girl Kit

Communication and body language:

 How to be soft and direct

More videos like ^ 

Be polite, not friendly 

Body: 

How to: wood therapy 

Low impact work outs

Traditionally “Feminine” Stuff: 

How to walk in heels

Understand your colours 

Gua Sha for beginners

Making yourself smarter stuff:

Art explained - videos range from 15 mins to longer, explaining a piece of art 

Useful charts - history and religion 

Cold fusion- business, tech, economy 

Biographies- about influential people

Real science - nature, animals

Great big story- storytelling, world

Slide bean- start ups and tech 

[books-to-add-to-your-tbr]

Title: On Top of Glass: My Stories as a Queer Girl in Figure Skating

Author: Karina Manta

Series or standalone: standalone

Publication year: 2021

Genres: nonfiction, memoir, LGBT+, sports, biography, contemporary

Blurb: Karina Manta has had a busy few years: not only did she capture the hearts of many with her fan-favourite performance at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, she also became the first female figure skater on Team U.S.A. to come out as queer. Her Modern Love essay “I Can’t Hate My Body If I Love Hers” was published in the New York Times, and then she joined the circus - Cirque du Soleil’s on-ice show, AXEL. Karina’s memoir covers these experiences and much more. Attending a high school with 4,000 students, you’d expect to know more than two openly-gay students, but Karina didn’t meet an out lesbian until she was nearly seventeen, let alone any other kind of queer woman. But this isn’t just a story about her queerness; it’s also a story about her struggle with body image in a sport that prizes delicate femininity. It’s a story about panic attacks, first crushes, and all the crushes that followed. It’s a story about growing up, feeling different than everybody around her...and then realising that everyone else felt different too.

[entitled-fangirl]

Breakfast is ready.

Felix Catton x reader

Summary: The reader feels sick, but Felix is going to make sure she eats breakfast.

Words: 968

Warnings: sickness, cursing

Author's note: This is kind of from an ask but I made it just about breakfast!

Masterlist

................................................................

She woke up to the blinds being opened by the maid, "Breakfast is ready."

She let out a soft groan, sitting up and stretching her arms out. Her hair was a mess, her clothes frumpeld. She looked over to see that Felix's side of the bed was empty and quite cold. He had been out for a while, and she couldn't possibly guess why he would leave her.

She pushed herself to the edge of the bed, standing onto her feet. Her head hurt, perhaps her body becoming ill, but there was no skipping breakfast. Her legs shivered, her now realizing she is only in Felix's shirt and her underwear. 

Running to the dresser, she pulls a pair of slacks. Pulling them on quickly, she throws a jumper over Felix's shirt. She tames her hair just enough to look presentable. But she takes an extra minute in the mirror, looking at the bags under her eyes. How late had they stayed up?

Throwing on a pair of socks to keep her feet warm, she quickly goes downstairs to breakfast.

Entering the dining room, she's greeted with quiet, "Morning"s. Her eyes immediately scan the table, seeing Felix look up at her too. A bright smile comes across his face at the sight of her sleepy form.

She quickly moves to sit next to him. As she sits down, she feels Felix's hand rest on her back, "You alright, angel?" He asks in a low tone.

"I… yeah. I just don't know why you didn't wake me up this morning." Her hand reaches up to her head as the headache comes back.

He lets out a soft laugh, whispering in her ear, "Well, I figured you deserve as much beauty sleep as I could give you. Seemed to work. I mean, look at you this morning. Taking my fuckin breathe away."

A smile graced her face as her cheek turned a shade of pink.

Duncan entered, "Goodmorning. How would you like your eggs?"

She grimaced, her voice coming out still quiet and hoarse from her sleep, "I'm fine, Duncan. I'm not that hung-"

"-She'll have them over easy. Thanks."

Duncan leaves with a nod.

She turned to Felix, "Why did you do that?"

He shrugs, his arm going over the back of her chair, "You need to eat."

She gives a slight pout, "I can't… my head hurts too bad."

His eyebrows furrow, "Did you sleep alright?"

She nods, "I slept fine, Lex."

He doesn't take that for an answer.

"Listen, angel. You think you're getting sick?"

"No. No. I'm alright."

He nods, deciding not to fight about it at the table. A silence ensues for a while before he decides to break it again. "Oh, angel. We were talking about the Shelley biography."

Venetia jumped in, "yeah. Do you know the story about Shelley's doppelgänger?"

She shook her head, stopping once she remembered the headache.

Felix got up from the table, going to the side table.

Venetia continued, "Shelley's housekeeper was cleaning one of the rooms when Shelley walked past the window and waved at her. So, she waved back before she realized that Shelley was in Italy…"

Felix had returned to the table, gently setting the now made plate in front of his angel for her to eat. She looked at him with a slightly disagreeing look, but knew not to fight about it at the table. 

"…And she was on the top floor of the house…"

Felix grimaced at Venetia's story, his hands moving over his girl's ears to keep her from hearing it. If it would freak him out, he knew she shouldn't hear it, "Oh, Vee. Stop, stop, stop. I won't sleep."

But she continued, "…a few hours later, he drowned."

Elspeth gasped, "oh. Oh, that's just given me goosebumps."

Felix took his hands back, considering it safe for his girl to listen again.

Farleigh stared at the paper in front of him, his voice strong and uncaring, "I heard he fucked his sister."

Sir James finally spoke up, "Oh, for God's sake!"

Felix turned, "Jesus, Farleigh…"

Oliver quipped up, "I think that was Byron."

The table went quiet, as if everyone had forgotten that Oliver was there. That quickly turned to small chatter between the adults.

Farleigh looked disgusted but Felix held an amused smile on his face, turning to her to see she had a matching one. He then pointed at her plate, as if telling her to eat it. About that time, Duncan brought out her eggs, setting it next to her other full plate. She let out a sigh, staring at the food. 

Elspeth was brought out of her talk hearing the girl's sigh. "Oh, darling. Is everything alright?"

Her eyes snapped up, her mouth opening to answer, but Felix beat her to it, "she's not feeling well, that's all."

The mother nodded, "Oh, I see. Nasty sickness going around this time of year. Take your time today, darling."

She nodded gratefully, turning back to her plate. The chattering continued and she continued to stare at the plate. Eventually, Felix brushed her arm lightly with his, his voice soft again, "Is something wrong, angel? You really must eat."

She simply stared at the eggs, feeling herself get sick just staring at them. Felix noticed it, immediately moving the plate away, "Duncan. Could I actually get some eggs just… scrambled?"

"Felix, stop."

"No. I want you to be able to eat what's in front of you. Duncan?"

Duncan nodded, taking the plate away quickly. 

She turns to see everyone staring at them. She mutters a quiet, "I'm sorry."

Felix sighs, "Don't be, angel." He kissed the top of her head as she stared at the table in embarrassment. 

Breakfast continued, Felix's arm around the back of her chair the entire time.

...................................................................

[makingqueerhistory]

Queer Books Challenged in Florida Schools and Libraries

There are some affiliate links below in case you want to support MQH.

Gender Queer: A Memoir, Maia Kobabe: Now, Gender Queer is here. Maia's intensely cathartic autobiography charts eir journey of self-identity, which includes the mortification and confusion of adolescent crushes, grappling with how to come out to family and society, bonding with friends over erotic gay fanfiction, and facing the trauma and fundamental violation of pap smears.

The Color Purple, Alice Walker: Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance and silence. Through a series of letters spanning nearly thirty years, first from Celie to God, then the sisters to each other despite the unknown, the novel draws readers into its rich and memorable portrayals of Celie, Nettie, Shug Avery and Sofia and their experience. The Color Purple broke the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, narrating the lives of women through their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery.

Julián Is a Mermaid, Jessica Love: While riding the subway home from the pool with his abuela one day, Julián notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julián gets home, daydreaming of the magic he's seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume: a butter-yellow curtain for his tail, the fronds of a potted fern for his headdress. But what will Abuela think about the mess he makes -- and even more importantly, what will she think about how Julián sees himself? Mesmerizing and full of heart, Jessica Love's author-illustrator debut is a jubilant picture of self-love and a radiant celebration of individuality.

Drama: A Graphic Novel, Raina Telgemeier: Callie loves theater. And while she would totally try out for her middle school's production of Moon over Mississippi, she can't really sing. Instead she's the set designer for the drama department's stage crew, and this year she's determined to create a set worthy of Broadway on a middle-school budget. But how can she, when she doesn't know much about carpentry, ticket sales are down, and the crew members are having trouble working together? Not to mention the onstage AND offstage drama that occurs once the actors are chosen. And when two cute brothers enter the picture, things get even crazier!

Cemetery Boys, Aiden Thomas: Yadriel has summoned a ghost, and now he can't get rid of him. When his traditional Latinx family has problems accepting his true gender, Yadriel becomes determined to prove himself a real brujo. With the help of his cousin and best friend Maritza, he performs the ritual himself, and then sets out to find the ghost of his murdered cousin and set it free. However, the ghost he summons is actually Julian Diaz, the school's resident bad boy, and Julian is not about to go quietly into death. He's determined to find out what happened and tie off some loose ends before he leaves. Left with no choice, Yadriel agrees to help Julian, so that they can both get what they want. But the longer Yadriel spends with Julian, the less he wants to let him leave.

I Am Billie Jean King, Brad Meltzer: This friendly, fun biography series focuses on the traits that made our heroes great--the traits that kids can aspire to in order to live heroically themselves. Each book tells the story of one of America's icons in a lively, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers and that always includes the hero's childhood influences. At the back are an excellent timeline and photos. This volume features Billie Jean King, the world champion tennis player who fought successfully for women's rights. From a young age, Billie Jean King loved sports--especially tennis! But as she got older, she realized that plenty of people, even respected male athletes, didn't take women athletes seriously. She set to prove them wrong and show girls everywhere that sports are for everyone, regardless of gender.

This One Summer, Mariko Tamaki: Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. One of the local teens - just a couple of years older than Rose and Windy - is caught up in something bad... Something life threatening. It's a summer of secrets, and sorrow, and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

Marriage of a Thousand Lies, Sj Sindu: Lucky and her husband, Krishna, are gay. They present an illusion of marital bliss to their conservative Sri Lankan-American families, while each dates on the side. It's not ideal, but for Lucky, it seems to be working. She goes out dancing, she drinks a bit, she makes ends meet by doing digital art on commission. But when Lucky's grandmother has a nasty fall, Lucky returns to her childhood home and unexpectedly reconnects with her former best friend and first lover, Nisha, who is preparing for her own arranged wedding with a man she's never met.

And Tango Makes Three, Peter Parnell: At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.

More Happy Than Not, Adam Silvera: In the months following his father's suicide, sixteen-year-old Aaron Soto can't seem to find happiness again, despite the support of his girlfriend, Genevieve, and his overworked mom. Grief and the smile-shaped scar on his wrist won't let him forget the pain. But when Aaron meets Thomas, a new kid in the neighborhood, something starts to shift inside him. Aaron can't deny his unexpected feelings for Thomas despite the tensions their friendship has created with Genevieve and his tight-knit crew. Since Aaron can't stay away from Thomas or turn off his newfound happiness, he considers taking drastic actions. The Leteo Institute's revolutionary memory-altering procedure will straighten him out, even if it means forgetting who he truly is.

Melissa, Alex Gino: When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy named George. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.

Melissa thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. Melissa really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part... because she's a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, Melissa comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

A Quick & Easy Guide to Queer & Trans Identities, Mady G, Jules Zuckerberg: In this quick and easy guide to queer and trans identities, cartoonists Mady G and Jules Zuckerberg guide you through the basics of the LGBT+ world! Covering essential topics like sexuality, gender identity, coming out, and navigating relationships, this guide explains the spectrum of human experience through informative comics, interviews, worksheets, and imaginative examples. A great starting point for anyone curious about queer and trans life, and helpful for those already on their own journeys!

This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson: This candid, funny, and uncensored exploration of sexuality and what it's like to grow up LGBTQ also includes real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrums, not to mention hilarious illustrations.

Little & Lion, Brandy Colbert: When Suzette comes home to Los Angeles from her boarding school in New England, she's isn't sure if she'll ever want to go back. L.A. is where her friends and family are (as well as her crush, Emil). And her stepbrother, Lionel, who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, needs her emotional support. But as she settles into her old life, Suzette finds herself falling for someone new...the same girl her brother is in love with. When Lionel's disorder spirals out of control, Suzette is forced to confront her past mistakes and find a way to help her brother before he hurts himself--or worse.

King and the Dragonflies, Kacen Callender: Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family.

It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy-that he thinks he might be gay. "You don't want anyone to think you're gay too, do you?"

Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place: A Transgender Memoir, Jackson Bird: An unflinching and endearing memoir from LGBTQ+ advocate Jackson Bird about how he finally sorted things out and came out as a transgender man.When Jackson Bird was twenty-five, he came out as transgender to his friends, family, and anyone in the world with an internet connection. Assigned female at birth and raised as a girl, he often wondered if he should have been born a boy. Jackson didn't share this thought with anyone because he didn't think he could share it with anyone.

The Black Flamingo, Dean Atta: Michael is a mixed-race gay teen growing up in London. All his life, he's navigated what it means to be Greek-Cypriot and Jamaican--but never quite feeling Greek or Black enough.

As he gets older, Michael's coming out is only the start of learning who he is and where he fits in. When he discovers the Drag Society, he finally finds where he belongs--and the Black Flamingo is born

Explore the full list here.

[thelastairsimblr]

Family Pack #4

I’m happy to share some sims with you all today! In this post, you’ll find 12 households (40 sims total), each with their own stories and biographies. All of these sims have additional Everyday outfits, skills, bonus traits, Likes and Dislikes, sexual orientations, pronouns, family dynamics, and Lifestyles. You can find them all on the gallery under my Origin ID: TheLastAirSimmer or in the tray files linked under the cut! As always, feel free to tag me if you end up using them.

Abreu

A respected food critic, Maria’s opinion is highly valued by all as the towns’ baked good connoisseur. Her husband Joaquin, a renowned pianist, is no exception; he worships the ground she walks on. Together, they project their creative outlooks onto their sons. Santiago, the eldest and a romantic, has the full support of his parents and wants to become a professional wedding photographer. Even though young Rémy feels he didn’t inherit his parents’ imagination, he still wants to make them proud.

Naval

Aparna owned her own restaurant while raising her two girls alone. Hema was able to help out when she was old enough, allowing Aparna to find success and receive critical acclaim by publishing her own cookbook. Today, Hema is focusing on her engineering studies while trying to find love; she’s very smart and sincere, but a bit naive. Ridhi is chasing a riskier path; she wants to be a famous musician. And while Aparna hopes that this is just a phase, she supports her youngest daughter anyway.

Monaghan

As young parents, Stefan and Marianne sacrificed a lot. Stefan became a cop to support his family, but still gets caught up trying to relive his youth from time to time. Marianne longs for the day that she can quit her job at the local diner and become a singer. Soren feels pressure to please his parents, but really just want to play videogames all day while Tatum and Aria constantly bicker, not at all concerned with their parents’ feelings or the wellbeing of Hunter, who just wants attention.

Larson

Quite the jazz singer in his day, Clive is desperate to find ways to stay relevant in the ever-changing music scene. Fiona, longing for the authentic soul who serenaded her years ago, knows she can inspire him again; she’s stood by him through a lot. But until then, you can find the melancholy art critic drinking to yesteryear at the bar. Jade dropped out of college to pursue a career in social media (much to Fiona’s discontent) while Candice is following the artistic path her parents paved.

Agawa

Ever the class clown, Yuto knew that he had a knack for entertaining people. This was only confirmed after he went viral on Social Bunny for the first time! When he told his parents that he wanted to pursue a life in the public eye, they saw it as further evidence that he couldn’t take anything seriously. He makes a decent living streaming video games and his eccentric personality is pure internet gold. Though to be fair, he should probably be a bit cautious with what he says and does online.

Hollifield

As a teen, Whitney’s future looked bright. But she forfeited a lot of opportunities to pursue a whirlwind romance with a boy who had a dangerous edge. They were happy for a time, but it didn’t last and the only thing she kept from that relationship was her daughter Emma. She now works a lowly job in fast food while taking classes at Britechester, hoping to find a career in social media. Her days are busier as a working single mom, but Emma keeps herself entertained by befriending her neighbors.

Catton

Following the loss of her son to avoidable circumstances, Dottie found herself in the care of his two children. Filled with regret for not doing more for her son, the college professor watches the kids like a hawk! She’s keen on using her connections to better their lives. Temperamental Owen does well to make her proud with his grades, but he has an artsy side that he only shares with those closest to him. His little sister Bonnie would rather spend time making friends than studying though.

Qian

After founding a groundbreaking app, Shirong found a place among the company of the rich and powerful. His charming wife Meifing, quite the schmoozer at elite parties, is constantly looking for funding for her next big venture (while also being the go-to-girl for all the neighborhood gossip). Nuo chose to move home after grad school to save money, but is ready to leave and start her own law firm. Her younger brother Haoyu adds to her restlessness by barraging her with his antics.

Sullivan

Atticus’ dad Clifford, a retired veteran, supported his sons’ musical dreams fully, having raised him alone after his wife died. While roaming the world, Atticus met Elisa; a fashion guru with a fiery disposition. The pair had three children and Clifford moved in to help with the newborn. Like her dad, Lydia also wants to be an artist (whether if it’s for her love for acting or a desire to be in the spotlight remains to be seen) while Malicia, afraid of being unseen, finds relief in her friends.

Kingsley-Ramirez

Jaime and Paxton met/moved in together before they could actually get to know each other, both having been new to the city at the time with zero connections. They found themselves compatible not only as roommates, but eventually boyfriends as well! Jaime always puts others before himself; it shows in the passion he has for social justice causes he advocates for. Meanwhile, Pax works a parttime job at a small coffee shop, but is intent on putting himself through school to become a veterinarian.

Tanaka-Murdock

Nigel and Shannon met at Foxbury and developed feelings for each other during study sessions. Though Nigel was the only one to graduate, he admires Shannon for making the decision that was right for her. He enjoys being the breadwinner while Shannon follows her artistic instincts, though he wishes he had his wife’s free spirit. Shannon is quite hard on herself and works tirelessly until she makes something she’s proud of while their son Kason, while a quick learner, really just wants to play.

Miyake

Even if he’s never been the most social person, Kenzo is a loyal and fierce friend to those lucky enough to make it into his circle. A patron of the sciences, he cares deeply about precision and perfection. However, when it comes to raising his son Akira, he wants the boy to follow his own path, even if it’s not exactly the one he would choose for himself. Akira seems to be doing just that; far more sociable than his father, he never fails to leave a lasting impression on anyone he meets.

[artemismatchalatte]

2023 Pinterest 50 Book Reading Challenge

18. Based on a True Story

The Trials of Radclyffe Hall by Diana Souhami

[literaryvein-reblogs]

can you do a blog about the main types of book genres there are if you haven't already? and how to know what you're writing?

Types of Book Genres

Mystery. Follows a crime (like a murder or a disappearance) from the moment it is committed to the moment it is solved. Mystery novels are often called “whodunnits” because they turn the reader into a detective trying to figure out the who, what, when, and how of a particular crime. Most mysteries feature a detective or private eye solving a case as the central character.

Thriller. According to the New York Public Library, thrillers gradually build anxiety and suspense. Examples of thrillers include “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn, “All Her Little Secrets” by Wanda M. Morris and “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides. ⚜ Psychological Thriller

Horror. “Carrie” by Stephen King, “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson and Edgar Allen Poe’s work are all under the umbrella of horror. These works are intended to frighten audiences and elicit a feeling of dread, according to the CDE.

Historical Fiction. Historical fiction takes place in a historical setting, the CDE notes. Some examples of historical fiction include “The Prophets” by Robert Jones, Jr. and “The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah.

Romance. Romance Writers of America (RWA) noted that romance refers to optimistic and emotionally satisfying stories that focus on a central love story. “The Love Hypothesis” by Ali Hazelwood and “Red, White and Royal Blue” by Casey McQuiston are both romance novels.

Western. Primarily set in the American Old West between the late 18th century and late 19th century and tell the stories of cowboys, settlers, and outlaws exploring the western frontier and taming the Wild West.

Bildungsroman. Translates to “novel of education” or “novel of formation,” chronicles a character’s journey from young innocence to worldly adulthood. This is a specific type of coming-of-age story in which the character gains knowledge and experience, even as innocence is lost.

Speculative Fiction. Refers to genres not based in reality, including work with magical, supernatural or otherwise imagined elements. Essentially, speculative fiction is the opposite of mimetic fiction. The category includes subgenres like fantasy, science-fiction, dystopian fiction and more, Witcover noted.

Science Fiction. This genre often involves science and technology of the future. Science fiction is frequently set in space or a different universe or world. It often uses some real theories of science.

Fantasy. According to the California Department of Education (CDE), fantasy "invites suspension of reality." The genre encompasses stories that wouldn't happen in real life, often set in another world or including magical elements.

Dystopian fiction. Imagines a future place in cataclysmic decline.

Action and Adventure. The tension of the protagonist’s journey in an adventure story creates a pulse-pounding, adrenaline-pumping storyline. Dramatic car chases, secret missions, and violent fight scenes often pop up in famous action stories. Great action writing draws in your audience, getting their adrenaline pumping as they turn the page.

Nonfiction (Memoir: Stories from an author’s life that offer a firsthand account of events are called memoirs. According to Reader's Digest, some highly-recommended memoirs include “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou and “Spare” by Prince Harry. ; Autobiography: a nonfiction (true) account of someone’s life. It is written by the subject of the autobiography; Biography: tell the story of a notable person’s life, written by someone other than the subject. Some examples are “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer, which tells the story of the adventurer Chris McCandless, and “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot.)

Food and Travel. Cookbooks, food history books, travel guides and travel memoirs all fall under this category that includes “The Omnivore's Dilemma” by Michael Pollan and “My Life in France” by Julia Child.

Humor. Strong humor writers have a way of spotting the patterns of life and bringing them to the surface at exactly the right moment.

Young Adult. YA books are intended for readers between 12 and 18 years old, according to Smithsonian Magazine. Some examples include “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins and “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas.

Children's Fiction. Many classic examples of children’s literature are picture books, including “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak or “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” by Mo Willems. Scholastic noted most picture books are intended for children up to seven years old.

Knowing your Genre. The world of literature abounds with different genres.

Although every literary genre has its own trends and defining characteristics, the divisions between these categories aren't always clear. Whether you’re picking another book off the shelf or plotting out your new novel, learning more about genre can help you decide what comes next.

If you want to become a writer, there are a number of reasons to learn about genres, according to Paul Witcover, associate dean of the online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

“I feel it’s important for writers to have an understanding of genre because it will impact how their books are marketed, as well as how they are perceived by publishers,” he said. “But I also think writers can be too concerned with genre.”

Although he encourages writers to learn about the subject, Witcover noted a tendency for overly rigid ideas about the distinctions between genres. “Concepts of genre are more fluid than writers may believe,” he said. It's important to keep that fluidity in mind.

Genre is determined by need and audience expectation. Its set functions are determined by its social need.

Broadly speaking, the fiction world is divided into 2 segments: literary fiction and genre fiction.

Literary fiction typically describes the kinds of books that are assigned in high school and college English classes, that are character driven and describe some aspect of the human condition. Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners tend to come from the literary fiction genre.

Genre fiction has a more mainstream, populist appeal. It traditionally comprises genres such as romance, mystery, thriller, horror, fantasy, and children’s books.

Some genre writers straddle a line between genre-focused commercial fiction and the traditions of literary fiction.

Traditionally, there are 4 broader categories of genre:

Fiction: Imagined or invented literature is called fiction, Writers & Artists noted. Examples of fiction titles include “1984” by George Orwell and “Little Fires Everywhere” by Celeste Ng.

Nonfiction: According to Writers & Artists, nonfiction refers to fact-based works. Some nonfiction titles include “The Body Keeps Score” by Bessel van der Kolk and “I Am Malala” by Malala Yousafzai, and “Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking” by Marcella Hazan.

Poetry: Britannica defines poetry as “literature that evokes a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience or a specific emotional response through language chosen and arranged for its meaning, sound and rhythm.” Poetry incorporates poetic elements and encompasses the work of writers like Maya Angelou, Robert Frost, Amanda Gorman and Richard Siken.

Drama: Dramatic literature refers to texts of plays that can be read for their literary value as well as performed, according to Britannica. Dramas include stage directions and specific formatting not found in prose or verse. Some of the most studied dramas are Shakespeare’s plays, like “Hamlet” and “Romeo and Juliet.” You might be familiar with other dramas, too, like “Death of a Salesman” and “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller or August Wilson’s Century Cycle of 10 dramas depicting the Black experience in the U.S. throughout the 20th century, including “The Piano Lesson” and “Fences.”

Although most writing falls into at least one of these 4 categories, the edges are a bit blurred, and there can be overlap.

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References

It seems the general advice is to learn about the different genres first, and try to see which elements your story has that align with them. Perhaps start with the broader categories first, then narrow it down to the major genres, until you identify which specific subgenre your story fits. And it's fine if they overlap, as this happens with most novels. Hope this helps!

[blog-karl]

New Multicultural Books, Sites & Free Fun

True Story FREEBIES!

We’re giving away another book: We’ve finally bound all our immigrant stories in one volume: 4 Stories of Immigrant Kids: True Tales of Courage and Faith—free on Kindle through August 6. Discover illustrated adventures—biographies spanning seventy years (1856 to 1926)—in the kids’ own words. Each child seeks a better life in America: Agnes’s Rescue (Book I, Scotland/Ireland), Ida’s Witness (Book…

[sarahdogoc80]

Lily Orchard's View on Drug Addicts is Backwards

Lily is using her sister being a drug addict to discount her. But honestly that's makes her more credible. I use to hang in drug circles for reasons I don't think are important. But I was in them. And almost every female in drug circles has experience in being molested/raped/violated especially as young girls. One addict I remember saying she would dream about her dad raping her and she did crack so she didn't have to sleep/can forget about it. She was thrown out at ten because "her mom was jealous her husband was ""having sex""" with their ten year old daughter and not her." So this isn't the burn Lily thinks it is. If her sister is a raging drug addict then she probably has something tramadic happen. As very rarely did I meet an addict of any gender that came from a loving and supportive home that didn't have some kind of trama happen behind closed door. I knew this guy who was adopted into a loving home with parents who still support him no matter how much he hurts them. But his baggage is he was a product of a gang rape of a teenage drug addict mother. His mother did drugs her whole pregnancy. He went down hill after finding his birth mother who originally wanting nothing to do with him and told him how he came to be. He came from the best home I can think of. But looking behind the outer layers. You see someone who was born addicted to Opeits and had his world shattered after finding out why he existed.

It's gross to try and use being a drug addict to treat someone like shit and discredit them. They are broken people who need help. Help a normal person can't provide they need professional help by the way. Lily honestly sounds like a conservative with this view. Pick 5 random biographies written by female addicts and half of them will probably have a story of sexual abuse.

From what I understand Courtney only does weed and cigarettes now. And these two things are no wear near heroin you Regan propaganda pusher.